Brian Lara has claims on the title of greatest left-handed batsman of all time.Source: AFP

DESPITE what The Simpsons might have you believe, life is actually pretty sweet for the left-handed people of the world, particularly if you’re an elite sportsperson.

Here’s our list of the greatest southpaws to have ever wielded a bat, board, club, ball or glove in their chosen sport.

BRIAN LARA — CRICKET

The ‘Prince of Trinidad’ is one of the greatest batsmen the game has seen. Lara had an attacking flair that made him a joy to watch, with his famously high back lift and follow-through seared into the memory of anyone who watched him. Lara had plenty of success against Australia, with his 277 in at the SCG in 1993 announcing his presence on the world stage. He is the current record holder for most runs in a Test innings (400 not out) and first-class innings (501 not out).

This is the man who dragged Australia out of the doldrums and to the top of the cricketing tree. He did so with bucketloads of grit, determination and left-handedness. ‘AB’ captained his country in 93 Test matches and was Australia’s leading Test and one-day international run-scorer until those records were broken by Ricky Ponting and Mark Waugh, respectively.

GRAEME POLLOCK — CRICKET

Pollock will forever be remembered for what might have been, after his career was cut short due to the boycott of South African sport during apartheid. But in his brief international career,

Pollock carved out a reputation as, alongside Sobers, the best left-handed batsman the world had seen. This was said by none other than Sir Donald Bradman.

Sir Garfield Sobers.Source: News Limited

SIR GARFIELD SOBERS — CRICKET

Sir Garry is one of the greatest all-rounders the game has seen and arguably the best cricketer to come out of the West Indies. He was an all-rounder in every sense of the word, able to win matches with his batting, bowling or fielding. His left-handed bowling was particularly tricky, possessing the rare ability to bowl pace, left-arm orthodox and left-arm wrist spin whenever he so desired. Sobers was one of Wisden’s five Cricketers of the Century, and the only left-hander on the list.

Pakistani paceman Wasim Akram.Source: News Corp Australia

WASIM AKRAM — CRICKET

Of all cricket’s great fast bowlers, Wasim Akram stands out as the only southpaw. He used his left-handedness to great effect, spearing the ball in at the batsmen’s toes from an uncomfortable angle or swinging it in and away from their bat with mesmerising skill. Akram took a whopping 414 Test wickets and 502 one-day international scalps, and his left-handed slogging with the bat wasn’t too shabby either.

Rafael Nadal.Source: News Limited

RAFAEL NADAL — TENNIS

It’s the most feared forehand in tennis. Whether or not left-handedness is the source of Nadal’s power, we’ll never know, but Nadal’s beasty left arm has carried the Spaniard to the world No.1 ranking, more than $70 million in prizemoney, 14 Grand Slam titles, Olympic gold and 64 total career titles — the fifth most of all time.

ROD LAVER — TENNIS

Australia’s best ever left-hander was also our best ever player, with “Rocket” Rod winning almost at will throughout the 1960s. Had he not turned professional and thus been banned from playing in Grand Slams (which at that stage were for amateurs only) from 1963 to 1967, Laver’s Grand Slam record of 11 singles and six doubles titles would almost certainly be far greater and well in excess of Roger Federer’s 17. Not only did Laver win all four majors in the same calendar year, he achieved the feat twice, in 1962 and 1969. No one else even comes close.

Tennis legend Martina NavratilovaSource: News Corp Australia

MARTINA NAVRATILOVA — TENNIS

1442 singles match wins. 219 losses. Yeah, Martina Navratilova was OK. In fact, she might just be the most dominant lefty in any sport in history. Her combination of unparalleled control from the baseline, coupled with ridiculous touch around the net made the Czech turned American almost unbeatable on the WTA Tour for a decade, and delivered 18 Grand Slam singles titles and 31 Grand Slam doubles titles. Beat that, boys.

Phil Mickelson.Source: AFP

PHIL MICKELSON — GOLF

The nickname says it all — “Lefty”. Mickelson’s swing is so pretty it hurts, and it’s carried the American to three Masters wins, the 2013 British Open and the 2005 PGA Championship. The only major to have eluded Mickelson is the US Open, where he has been runner-up a staggering six times.

BUBBA WATSON — GOLF

His left-handed, self-taught swing isn’t the prettiest, but it certainly works for the two-time Masters champion. Watson’s distance off the tee is legendary, but it’s the shot that won him his first Masters title in 2012 that truly showed what he can do. Deep in the right-hand woods off the tee at the 10th hole and on a bed of pinestraw, it looked like Watson had no shot at the hole. But the American proved otherwise, hitting a hook shot that avoided the trees and curled some 50m to the right, landing less than five metres from the pin. It was one of the greatest shots of all-time, and would have been all but impossible for a right-handed player.

Argentina's striker Lionel Messi.Source: AFP

LIONEL MESSI AND MARADONA — FOOTBALL

Arguably the best footballer to ever grace the planet and his heir apparent make our list of the round ball’s best ever left footers. Maradona’s superb ability with both feet makes it easy to forget his left was his dominant side, while Lionel Messi has brought down almost everyone that has come before him with one swing of his magical left peg.

Gareth Bale.Source: Getty Images

RYAN GIGGS AND GARETH BALE — FOOTBALL

Not to be outdone by the Argies, Wales of all nations has contributed two of football’s best lefties. Manchester United legend Ryan Giggs is arguably the best player of the last 20 years, while the sky’s the limit for his contemporary, Real Madrid winger Gareth Bale.

Bill Russell.Source: News Corp Australia

BILL RUSSELL — BASKETBALL

You know you’ve done OK when you don’t have enough fingers for all your NBA Championship rings. No one will ever come close to Bill Russell’s 11 NBA Championships with the Boston Celtics. And the chances of a left-handed player doing it are zero. Russell’s giant left paw terrorised opposition players for 14 seasons as he forged a reputation as one of the best centres to ever play the game. He was the NBA MVP five times and an All-Star 12 times and his last two titles with the Celtics in 1968 and 1969 came as a player-coach.

Larry Bird.Source: AP

LARRY BIRD — BASKETBALL

Technically, Larry Bird was and is right-handed. But his performance in just one game earns him a mention on our list. Apparently bored with destroying teams with his favoured hand, Bird chose to do the majority of his scoring with his left hand in a game against Portland in 1986. The result? Just a lazy 47 points.

Babe Ruth.Source: News Limited

BABE RUTH — BASEBALL

It would almost never happen these days, but baseball’s greatest ever player started his career as a pitcher before evolving into a power hitter beyond compare. Ruth slugged 714 home runs and batted in 2213 throughout his 21-year career at the Boston Red Sox, New York Yankees and Boston Braves in the early 1900s, won the World Series seven times, was twice an All-Star and 12 times the American League’s home run champion.

Home runs during the week, touchdowns on Sunday. Sanders was, quite simply, a left-handed multi-sport freak. A two-time Super Bowl winner as a cornerback for San Francisco and Dallas, Sanders did something that may never happen again, playing NFL and Major League Baseball at the same time. Sanders famously scored a touchdown for the Atlanta Falcons and hit a home run for the New York Yankees in the SAME WEEK in 1989. He played in the 1992 World Series with the Atlanta Braves, hitting a staggering .503 while battling a broken bone in his foot. We’ll say it again: freak.

Quarterback Michael Vick.Source: AFP

MICHAEL VICK — NFL

When he isn’t using his left hand to hold the leash of his fighting dogs, Vick is putting it to good use as one of the highest-profile quarterbacks in the NFL. Vick has been to the Pro Bowl four times while playing for the Atlanta Falcons and Philadelphia Eagles, and will this year suit up for the New York Jets. A decent throw with freakish leg speed, the 34-year-old has rushed for more yards (5857) than any other quarterback in NFL history.

Manny Pacquiao lands a punch against Shane Mosley.Source: AP

MANNY PACQUIAO — BOXING

Given the choice, you should probably elect to have the Pac-Man slug you with his right hand. Not that it’d help you much. Boxing’s most lethal southpaw is the only fighter to have won world titles in eight (yes, eight) divisions, all the way from flyweight to light middleweight. The Filipino boxer has won 56 of his 63 professional bouts, 38 of them by knockout.

Australian rugby fans, look away now. The English superboot sank Aussie hearts in the 2003 Rugby World Cup final, although ironically his most iconic moment — the matchwinning field goal in that epic encounter — actually came with his right boot. Still, he made a career of plundering points with his brilliant left boot and infamous kicking style. He amassed 1246 points in Test rugby and plenty more at club level with Newcastle in England and then Toulon in France.

All Black Dan Carter.Source: AFP

DAN CARTER — RUGBY

The All Blacks superstar is another rugby ace with a deadly — and cultured — left boot. Carter’s 1440 points — the most in Test rugby — have largely come through his brilliant goalkicking from all parts of the field.

TOM CARROLL — SURFING

The original “goofy” surfer, Carroll in 1983 was the first surfer to become world champion with his left foot at the back of the board. The Sydney surfer backed it up the next year, and even managed to finish second in 1985, despite boycotting the South African leg of the world tour in protest against apartheid.

Mark Occhilupo.Source: News Limited

MARK OCCHILUPO — SURFING

Hands don’t have a lot to do with Occhilupo’s prowess on a surfboard, but he was one of the few goofy-footed surfers to have reached the top of the sport. “Occy” burned out and left the sport in the late 1980s, but mounted a comeback in 1995 that culminated in his crowning as world champion in 1999.